Secretary-General Appoints Peter de Clercq of Netherlands as Deputy Special Representative for United Nations Stabalization Mission in Haiti

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Peter de Clercq of the Netherlands as his Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), where he will also serve as United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative.

Mr. de Clercq will succeed Mr. Nigel Fisher of Canada, who concluded his appointment in July 2013. The Secretary-General is grateful to Mr. Fisher for his dedication and service in Haiti, including as his Special Representative ad interim since February 2013.

Currently Senior Adviser to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia (United Nations Assistance Mission for Somalia, UNSOM), Mr. de Clercq previously served as Deputy Special Representative for Somalia (United Nations Political Office for Somalia, UNPOS). He brings to the position a solid experience in managing political processes, security sector development, operations and emergency management, protection of civilians and rule of law, as well as mobilization of humanitarian and development assistance.

Mr. de Clercq also served as United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in Sudan. He worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for 27 years, during which time he held various positions in its Headquarters in Geneva and Budapest, as well as in field assignments in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Angola and Pakistan. He has also been seconded to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sudan.

Mr. de Clercq holds a master’s degree in development sociology from the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands and is a graduate of the Netherlands’ Institute for International Affairs “Clingendael” in The Hague.